Seven non-Miami matchups plus a few more byes!
It’s mostly conference matchups this week, with a couple non-conference games mixed in. Plus, the ACC finally has a Thursday night game! Yay. One game I actually am excited for is the Miami Hurricanes playing at the Louisville Cardinals this Saturday at high noon. The Canes better look good after their bye week.
Let’s do some rooting!
Boston College @ Virginia Tech – 10/17 at 7:30 PM EST, TV – ESPN
Football fans will know after tonight’s game if BC’s loss to Virginia was the beginning of the end for the Eagles in 2024, or if coach Bill O’Brien righted the ship during the bye week. Meanwhile, the Hokies need to take care of business at home. I know a Tech win strengthens Miami’s resume slightly, but I don’t care. Let’s go BC.
Florida State @ Duke – 10/18 at 7:00 PM EST, TV – ESPN2
As a Miami fan, would I rather face this year’s FSU team after a win or loss by the Seminoles? After a win might be a little more preferable. To be honest though, I don’t think it matters with this rivalry. Switching gears, I really don’t hold any ill will towards Duke coach Manny Diaz. He didn’t work out as the Canes coach, but he brought in the Turnover Chain and a few really good football players. It could’ve been worse considering what Miami fans have gone through the last 20-plus years. Let’s go Duke.
Matchup of the Week
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Virginia @ #10 Clemson – 10/19 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – ACC Network
It’s definitely a light slate for this to be the matchup of the week. Also, I couldn’t use Notre Dame again; I’m sick of them. Anyway, Virginia looks good this season. They nearly upset Louisville and are playing good overall team football. I don’t think Clemson coach Dabo Swinney will let his squad take the Cavaliers lightly. That said, as a commenter pointed out last week, I should be rooting against Clemson since they are Miami’s main competition at the top of the ACC. He’s right! Let’s go Virginia.
Wake Forest @ UConn – 10/19 at 12:00 PM EST, TV – CBS Sports
Will I watch one second of Demon Deacons football before they play at Hard Rock for Miami’s home finale? Probably not. If Wake loses at UConn this Saturday, I definitely won’t. Seemed like just yesterday Wake Forest had Sam Hartmann at quarterback, an exciting offense, and big bowl game aspirations. Fast forward two years and they’re underdogs at UConn. Yikes. Let’s go Wake Forest.
#12 Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech – 10/19 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – ESPN
The Yellow Jackets are in the perfect spot to pull off the upset here. They have fallen off the radar some by having two losses, but they are still tough as hell and will be extra hyped with a highly ranked team coming to town. Further, I hope GT’s defense dares Notre Dame’s QB Riley Leonard to throw the ball. I don’t think he can do it all game. Also, ND’s running game is too good to try to stop for sixty minutes. I believe in the Yellow Jacket magic! Let’s go Georgia Tech.
NC State @ Cal – 10/19 at 3:30 PM EST, TV – ACC Network
One of these teams will finally have a conference win after this game. NC State is having a “year from hell” season and Cal is having a “what if” season. Neither are fun, but I would have to think the “what if” season is so much worse because you keep thinking about the close losses and what it would be like if your team won those games. Give me “year from hell” all day long. Okay, this is getting sad. Let’s go NC State.
#21 SMU @ Stanford – 10/19 at 8:00 PM EST, TV – ACC Network
ACC stands for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The primetime game on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s own network is SMU at Stanford. For the uninitiated, SMU is located in Dallas, TX and Stanford is located in Northern California. Hmm. Meanwhile, the Big Ten had Ohio State at Oregon last Saturday, while the SEC has Georgia at Texas and Alabama at Tennessee this Saturday. The ACC really is doomed. Let’s go SMU.
See you next week!